JP2001359038A - Image pickup device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image pickup device that can enhance a problem of deteriorated image quality caused by multi-pixels of an image pickup element and realize image pickup with high resolution as required. SOLUTION: An image pickup control section 1 12a shares an image pickup control function for additive image pickup and an image pickup control function for non-additive image pickup and performs control for the additive image pickup with priority so long as no special setting operation by a user is made (default). In the additive image pickup, summing unit pixel signals of the image pickup element 105 with 4,000,000 pixels conducts additive reduction processing to reduce number of the pixels and the image signal (1,000,000 pixels) after the additive reduction is recorded on a memory card in a prescribed recording format. On the other hand, the non-additive image pickup usable by setting is equivalent to a standard image pickup mode used by a conventional digital camera, no additive reduction processing is conducted and all the pixel signals (4,000,000 pixels) of the image pickup element 105 are used and recorded on the memory card.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an image pickup apparatus, and more particularly to an image pickup apparatus whose sensitivity is improved by adding pixel signals.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, digital stills (electronic cameras) for obtaining a video signal by capturing a subject image with an image sensor such as a CCD have been actively developed. In such an image pickup apparatus, regardless of whether the image pickup apparatus is a moving image pickup apparatus or a still image pickup apparatus, the addition of pixel information adjacent to the image pickup element, for example, the addition of signals of a total of four pixels of two pixels in the vertical direction and two pixels in the horizontal direction is performed. Although the resolution is reduced, the sensitivity can be improved. As a specific method of this type of addition, there is an external digital addition method in which pixel signals are read out from an image sensor by a normal method (one pixel at a time) and then A / D converted and added by a digital processing circuit system. For example, there has been known an in-element analog addition method in which a transfer drive of, for example, a CCD image pickup device is devised in an image pickup device and charges are added in a transfer path. Such an intra-element addition method also has the effect of shortening the reading time of one frame image (improving the frame rate), which cannot be obtained by the external digital addition method.

On the other hand, in-element addition is generally difficult to apply to a single-chip color element due to restrictions on the method of addition, and image quality is deteriorated due to saturation of a signal amount inside a CCD image pickup element. In order to obtain, the applicant of the present invention can easily apply the present invention to a single-chip color element by appropriately combining the in-element analog addition method and the external digital addition method, and without deterioration due to saturation inside the element. There has been proposed an addition imaging using a combined internal / external addition method capable of improving sensitivity, a dynamic range (D range), and a frame rate (Japanese Patent Application No. 2000-022758).

[0004]

In any case, many of these techniques relating to additive imaging merely show a method of realizing additive imaging, and the practical usability of a camera is not much considered. It has not been. In other words, those specifically proposed for the integration of additive imaging as a camera use a conventional non-additive imaging in which each pixel information is individually read out as a standard imaging mode of the camera, such as an electronic finder application. In general, a configuration is generally used in which additive imaging is used as a special imaging mode, for example, only under special conditions that require an increase in sensitivity or an improvement in frame rate.

[0005] Such a configuration of the camera has not been particularly problematic until now, but in recent years, the number of pixels of the image sensor has been rapidly increased, and there is a possibility that a serious problem may occur in the future.
That is, recently, an image sensor using an image sensor of 4 million pixels is being supplied for consumer use, and it is expected that an image sensor having 6 million pixels or even 10 million pixels will be realized in the future. With the increase in the number of pixels, in normal non-addition imaging, the file size of a recorded image is enlarged, which causes overload in an actual use environment such as a personal computer, of course, lowers the frame rate, and further reduces the image sensor. There is a problem that the image quality (S / N, D range) is deteriorated due to a principle factor of the shortage of the accumulated photocharge per pixel due to the imaging element itself.

[0006] Even if the normal non-addition imaging and the addition imaging can be selected, if the addition imaging is provided as one of the special imaging modes to the last, such a special imaging mode is not used. It is meaningless for a general user who does not perform a setting operation for use (a user who is subject to foolproofing), and the added imaging cannot be effectively used.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and firstly, without any special setting operation by the user.
A second object of the present invention is to provide an image pickup apparatus capable of performing image-priority image pickup capable of improving a problem such as image quality deterioration due to an increase in the number of pixels of an image pickup element, and secondly capable of performing high-resolution image pickup as needed. With the goal.

[0008]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention provides an image pickup device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels, and a driving unit for driving the image pickup device to read out image signals. An addition unit capable of executing an addition subtraction process of reducing the number of pixels by adding unit pixel signals corresponding to the image-receiving pixels to each other; and an output image signal of the image sensor that has been subjected to the addition subtraction process by the addition unit. Imaging control means capable of executing additive imaging for recording on a recording medium according to the recording format of the imaging apparatus, wherein the imaging control means performs imaging in a default state defined as an initial setting state of the imaging apparatus. When it is executed, it is characterized in that it is configured to perform the addition imaging.

Further, according to the present invention, an image sensor having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels, and a unit pixel signal corresponding to the image receiving pixel driven by driving the image sensor is read out while being added inside the image sensor. An imaging apparatus comprising: a driving unit capable of performing addition reading, and an imaging control unit capable of performing addition imaging for recording an output image signal of an imaging element by the addition reading on a recording medium according to a predetermined recording format, The imaging control means is configured to perform the additive imaging when performing imaging in a default state defined as an initial setting state of the imaging apparatus.

According to the imaging apparatus of the present invention, the addition imaging is prepared as a so-called default imaging mode, and when the imaging apparatus is in its initial state, that is, the default state, the user can perform normal imaging such as an imaging trigger. Is performed, the addition imaging using the addition subtraction processing is automatically performed, and the image signal obtained by the addition is recorded on the recording medium. As described above, by using the addition imaging as a default imaging mode for obtaining a recorded image instead of a special imaging, a case where an imaging element having 4 million pixels, 6 million pixels, or more multi-pixels is used. However, it is possible to prevent the file size of the recorded image from being enlarged without a special setting operation by the user, and to secure a sufficient sensitivity and a dynamic range. Further, since there is room in the spatial resolution of the image sensor itself with respect to the resolution of the recorded image, it is possible to obtain effects such as reduction in color moiré.

In particular, a high frame rate can be easily secured by using addition imaging in which at least a part of addition reading which is read while adding a unit pixel signal corresponding to an image receiving pixel inside the imaging element is included. In addition to the above, it is possible to reduce the amount of calculation processing for the output of the image sensor.

[0012] Further, as preferable modes of the above-mentioned default state, 1) the default state is an initial setting state caused by the end of all adjustments in the manufacturing process of the image pickup apparatus, and 2) a system for controlling the operation of the image pickup apparatus. The initial setting state caused by the operation of the reset switch provided in preparation for the runaway state of the controller; 3) The initial setting state caused by replacing a replaceable battery used as a power supply; 4) The main power supply is turned on. Or an initial setting state caused by turning on or off the power by operating a power switch for turning off. With these, the user does not need to be aware of anything,
It is possible to prioritize shooting / recording with priority on image quality by additive imaging.

Further, the present invention provides an image pickup device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels, a non-additional readout unit for driving the image pickup device to individually read out a unit pixel signal corresponding to the image receiving pixel, and the unit. A driving unit capable of performing addition and reading for reading out pixel signals while adding the pixel signals inside the imaging device, and imaging control for recording an output image signal of the imaging device by the non-additional reading or the addition reading on a recording medium according to a predetermined recording format Means, a first recording image quality mode corresponding to a first recording pixel number of the predetermined recording format, and a second recording image quality mode corresponding to a second recording pixel number larger than the first recording pixel number And a recording quality mode switching means for switching between the first recording quality mode and the first recording quality mode. Addition imaging by addition readout, and said for the second recording quality mode non-addition imaging by the non-addition readout, but configured to perform respectively.

In this manner, the first and second recording image quality modes having different numbers of recording pixels are prepared, and the addition and non-addition imaging are automatically switched according to the recording image quality mode to be used. Thereby, sufficient sensitivity, dynamic range, and high frame rate can be ensured in the first recording image quality mode, and high-resolution imaging utilizing the spatial resolution of the image sensor to the maximum in the second recording image quality mode is executed. This makes it possible to perform optimal imaging control for an imaging device using an imaging element with a large number of pixels.

[0015] Also in this configuration, it is preferable that addition imaging is performed in a default state defined as an initial setting state of the imaging apparatus, so that when no special setting operation is performed, addition is performed. Imaging,
That is, it is possible to preferentially perform imaging in the first recording image quality mode.

When performing continuous shooting, the first
By setting so that the recording image quality mode is preferentially selected, even if a special large buffer is not prepared,
Sufficient continuous shooting performance can be obtained.

In the case where the second recording image quality mode is selected by the recording image quality mode switching means when performing continuous shooting, a warning means is provided to warn the user. It is preferable that the selection of the second recording image quality mode is prohibited.

[0018]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Here, a case where the present invention is implemented as a digital camera will be described as an example.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 101 denotes an imaging lens system including various lenses; 102, a lens driving mechanism for driving the lens system 101; 103, an exposure control mechanism for controlling the diaphragm of the lens system 101; 104, a mechanical shutter; Is a CCD color image sensor having a Bayer array color filter, 106 is a CCD driver for driving the image sensor 105, 107 is a pre-processing circuit including a gain control amplifier, an A / D converter, etc., 108 is a color signal generator Digital processing circuit for performing processing, matrix conversion processing, and other various digital processing; 109, a card interface; 110, a memory card;
4 shows a D image display system.

As the image pickup device 105, for example, a Bayer array interlace type having 4 million pixels is used.

In the figure, reference numeral 112 denotes a system controller (CPU) for comprehensively controlling each unit, 113 denotes an operation switch system including various switches, and 114 denotes an operation display for displaying an operation state, a mode state, and the like. System, 115 is a lens driver for controlling the lens driving mechanism 102, 116 is a strobe as a light emitting means, 117 is an exposure control driver for controlling the strobe 116, 118
Is a nonvolatile memory (E) for storing various setting information and the like.
EPROM).

In the digital camera of the present embodiment,
The system controller 112 performs all control in a comprehensive manner. In particular, the shutter mechanism included in the exposure control mechanism 103 and the CCD image pickup device 1
Exposure (charge accumulation) and signal readout are performed by controlling the drive of the drive circuit 05, and the readout signal is taken into the digital process circuit 108 via the preprocess circuit 107, subjected to various signal processings, and then subjected to the card interface 109 via the card interface 109. The data is recorded on the memory card 110.

In the digital camera of the present embodiment,
The image pickup / recording of the object is performed by using the addition imaging using the pixel addition as a so-called default imaging mode. In order to realize this, the system controller 112 is provided with an imaging control unit 112a and a recording image quality mode switching unit 112b.

The imaging control unit 112a has both an imaging control function for additive imaging and an imaging control function for non-additive imaging. Unless a special setting operation is performed by a user, the imaging control unit 112a performs an additional imaging operation. Execute with priority given to control. In the addition imaging, an addition subtraction process of reducing the number of pixels by adding unit pixel signals of the imaging element 105 of 4 million pixels to each other is performed (four-pixel addition imaging), and an image after the addition reduction process is performed The signal (1 million pixels) is recorded on the memory card 110 in a predetermined recording format. Note that the compression / non-compression and the compression ratio at the time of recording are arbitrary. On the other hand, non-additional imaging is a standard imaging mode used in a normal digital camera, in which addition and subtraction processing is not performed, and recording to the memory card 110 is performed using all pixel signals (4 million pixels) of the image sensor 105. Done. Also in this case, the compression / non-compression and the compression ratio at the time of recording are arbitrary.

The recording image quality mode switching section 112b is a first recording image quality mode using additive imaging (1 million pixel recording).
And a second recording image quality mode using non-additive imaging (4 million pixel recording). In the present embodiment, as described above, the first recording image quality mode using the addition imaging is defined as the default imaging mode. Therefore, unless a special setting operation is performed, the first recording image quality mode is used. Is automatically executed.

(Transition of Operation Control State) Next, an operation control state of the digital camera of the present embodiment will be described with reference to a state transition diagram of FIG. Although FIG. 2 shows only the modes directly related to the present invention, actually, for example, AE (automatic exposure correction) and AF (automatic focusing)
-There are also various shooting settings such as AWB (automatic white balance adjustment). All of these various settings can be made independently, and the settings are retained even when the data backup system is functioning normally, for example, when the power is turned off or turned on.

As shown in the state transition diagram of FIG. 2, the digital camera has various operation modes such as a photographing mode and a reproducing mode. By operating a power switch for turning on or off the main power of the digital camera, the digital camera is set to a default state which is an initial state. That is, when the power switch is turned on (power-on), the digital camera is started in the photographing mode in the same state as the factory shipping state (the state after the adjustment of the manufacturing process is completed, but not operated). This photographing mode is a default state which is an initial state of the digital camera. When the user performs a normal photographing operation such as a photographing trigger, the first recording image quality mode using additive imaging (1 million pixel recording) ) Is started.

When the battery used as the power supply of the digital camera is replaced, or when the system reset switch for the unexpected runaway of the microcomputer of the system controller 112 is operated, the system is also initialized to the default state. The operation mode changeover switch switches the operation mode from the photographing mode to another operation mode such as the reproduction mode. When an operation for returning from these other operation modes to the photographing mode is performed, the operation is also initialized to the default state.

Note that the default state is not limited to a camera that returns to a common factory shipping state as in this example, but a state in which transition is performed by the above-described operation and no other setting operation is performed is positive. For a general user who does not perform any setting operation, it can be said that the conditions are always given (settings that are always selected), and therefore all are the default states of the present invention.

In the present digital camera, in the default state, including when the power is turned on or when the mode is switched from the reproduction mode to the photographing mode, the recording image quality mode is set to 1 million pixels (the number of recording pixels is 1 million pixels). When the photographing trigger is operated in this state, for example, four-pixel addition imaging is performed in which the unit pixel signals are added and read out in the image sensor 105. At this time, since the number of recording pixels coincides with the number of output pixels of the addition processing, it is not necessary to perform a process of increasing or decreasing the number of pixels using interpolation or the like. Also, one million pixels is sufficient as a normal image both in terms of imaging resolution and the number of recording pixels, and the file size does not increase (the number of recording pixels is 4).
One million often tends to be overkill). In this state, the mode can be switched to the continuous shooting mode, and high-speed continuous shooting utilizing a high frame rate is possible.

When single shooting is selected, the recording image quality mode is set to the second recording image quality mode,
It can be switched to one million pixels (the number of recording pixels is four million pixels). When the photographing trigger is operated in this state, non-additive imaging is performed. Also at this time, the number of recording pixels coincides with the number of output pixels of the addition processing (this is a virtual expression in which non-addition imaging is regarded as the addition of the number of additions 0, and thus is equal to the number of pixels of the image sensor in this case). Therefore, the process of increasing the number of pixels and the process of reducing the number of pixels using interpolation or the like are unnecessary.

In the second recording image quality mode, although the S / N, the D range and the frame rate are lower than those in the first recording image quality mode based on additive imaging, the shooting resolution is extremely high and the recording resolution is the same as that of the first recording image quality mode. This is very effective for imaging in which resolution is to be prioritized.

When the continuous shooting is selected, it is prohibited to switch the image quality mode to the second recording image quality mode of 4 million pixel mode (the number of recording pixels is 4 million pixels).
In the case of the 4 million pixel mode, continuous shooting cannot be selected. When continuous shooting in 4 million pixel mode is selectable, not only the frame rate is slow, but also
This is because the large number of pixels requires a large buffer capacity to cope with continuous shooting, and the efficiency of the system is deteriorated.

Of course, when a sufficient buffer capacity is prepared, continuous shooting in the 4 million pixel mode may be selectable. However, even in this case, if the setting operation for continuous shooting in the 4 million pixel mode is performed, the buzzer or LC
A warning is issued by D display or the like. This is to notify the user in advance that a problem such as an increase in the file size or a decrease in the number of continuous shot frames per unit time occurs. Further, as another mode other than the warning, for example, 40
Even if continuous shooting is selected in the 100,000 pixel mode, the system automatically switches to the 1 million pixel mode, which is the first recording image quality mode, and executes continuous shooting in the 4 million pixel mode. Only when further setting operation of
Control for shifting to the continuous shooting mode of 4 million pixels can be used.

(Additional Imaging) Hereinafter, a specific example of additive imaging performed in the default imaging mode (one million pixel mode) will be described.

FIG. 3 shows a planar structure of the CCD image pickup device 105. As shown in FIG. 3, the CCD image pickup device 105 includes photodiodes 201,
A plurality of vertical CCDs 202 and one horizontal CCD 20
3 and an interline (IT) type interlaced drive system. The color filters have an RGB Bayer arrangement as shown in FIG. In such an arrangement, different colors are mixed by simple addition of adjacent pixels. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the following combined use of elements inside and outside is used.

That is, as shown in FIG.
In the image pickup device having the GB Bayer array, when focusing on each field, an RG or GB stripe array is formed. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the n-line addition drive (n
(Double speed reading), and the colors are added in the horizontal CCD without being mixed. Specifically, n pixels in the vertical direction are added in the horizontal transfer path in interlaced frame reading. After this is read out to the outside, the averaging is performed for every n pixels of the same color in the horizontal direction by digital arithmetic processing.

In the case of 4-pixel addition, as shown in FIG.
Two-pixel addition in the vertical direction is performed in the odd-numbered field, and two-pixel addition in the vertical direction is performed in the even-numbered field. At this time, the exposure amount is controlled to １ ／.

For eight pixels as shown in FIG. 5, (G1 + G5) is obtained by adding two pixels in the odd field in the vertical direction.
(R1 + R3), (G2 + G6) and (R2 + R4) are obtained, and (G1 + G5) is obtained by adding two pixels of the same color in the horizontal direction.
+ (G2 + G6) and (R2 + R4) + (R1 + R3) are obtained. Similarly, (B1 + B3), (G3 + G7), (B2 + B
4) and (G4 + G8) are obtained, and (B1 + B3) + (B2 + B4) and (G3 +
G7) + (G4 + G8) is obtained.

The above processing can be realized as shown in FIG. That is, the imager system corresponding to 105 in FIG. 1 only needs to perform double-speed vertical addition driving, and the digital signal processing system corresponding to 108 only needs to perform two-pixel average averaging in the same color (ie, every other pixel). In the corresponding exposure control system, the exposure amount may be controlled to １ ／. Here, in the digital signal processing system, since addition in the vertical direction has already been performed, addition in the horizontal direction only (one-dimensional addition).
And signal processing can be significantly simplified as compared with two-dimensional addition.

The above-described n-line addition drive used in the present embodiment is a well-known technique and will not be described in detail. However, in normal drive, only one transfer unit is output in each horizontal blanking period. The vertical drive pulse is output for n transfer units in each horizontal blanking period. As a result, pixel information in the vertical transfer path is added by n pixels in the vertical direction in the horizontal transfer path.

Since the unit pixels obtained by the addition according to the present embodiment have a Bayer array as shown on the right side of FIG. 5, the subsequent luminance / color signal generation processing is performed using the existing (interlaced) Bayer array. Exactly the same algorithm can be used. In addition, since the total number of pixels in the CCD when performing total N × N pixel addition is N, the final sensitivity increase amount (SN improvement amount: random noise is inversely proportional to the square root of the average pixel number due to its statistical properties). Therefore, the target value of the exposure amount can be reduced to 1 / N, so that there is no problem caused by saturation occurring inside the image sensor (for example, a horizontal transfer path). For example, when adding four pixels in total, the exposure amount is １ ／, which is consistent.

Since the charge (voltage level) at the time of CCD output does not change, there is no need to change the analog amplifier gain, and there is no new problem caused by the analog system (including A / D). Extremely large. In addition,
As for the noise generated in the analog system, the noise is further reduced during digital addition. Therefore, generally, the gain of the analog system is generally set higher than that at the time of normal sensitivity (at the time of non-addition) to avoid an increase in quantization noise. Higher sensitivity can be obtained more reliably than all digital methods that need to be performed. Further, it is possible to cope with continuous shooting utilizing an improvement in the frame rate by n-time reading.

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining the shutter opening / closing operation and the charge reading operation in the present embodiment.

After opening the mechanical shutter 104, a final charge discharge pulse (VSUB) is given to start charge accumulation (exposure). Then, charge is accumulated in the photodiode 201 until the shutter 104 closes. Next, after the shutter 104 is closed, the vertical CCD 20 is driven by the transfer path drive.
Immediately after the discharge of the unnecessary charges from the pixel 2 is completed, the pixel charges of the photodiodes 201 in the odd fields are read out and transferred to the vertical CCD 202 by the ODD-TG pulse. At this time, addition of two pixels in the vertical direction is performed in the horizontal CCD 203. Subsequently, the pixel charge of the photodiode 201 in the even field is changed to the vertical CC by the EVEN-TG pulse.
Read and transfer to D202. At this time, similarly, addition of two pixels in the vertical direction is performed.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the mechanical shutter is used to read data in an odd field and an even field separately, and unnecessary charges are discharged in a state where the shutter 104 is closed prior to reading. It is possible to prevent unnecessary charges such as smear from entering as noise.

In addition, in the above addition imaging, the exposure amount is 1
/ 2 (= 1 / N), which seeks the effect of preventing the image quality (SN) from deteriorating at all with respect to the normal time. Settings are also possible. Examples of the setting in this case include (1) the target value of the exposure control is 1/4 (1 / N ² ). (2) The digital operation in the latter stage is not an averaging but an addition (two pixels skipping one pixel). (The points are the same.) In this case, at the time of output from the image pickup device, only a signal level of 1/2 of the normal level can be obtained. However, since the level returns to the normal level by digital addition, the sensitivity of 4 times is obtained when the exposure amount is 1/4. That is what you are doing. However, this is equivalent to increasing the gain in the digital system,
Both quantization noises have increased compared to the first example.

As a further modified embodiment, there is a method in which the above (2) is performed by increasing the gain of the analog system by a factor of 2 and averaging the digital system. However, this does not increase the quantization noise but increases the analog noise. It increases and it can be said that it is a class. As a similar example, the exposure control target value in the above (1) may be set to a different value.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the number of pixels is increased to 4 million pixels, 6 million pixels or more by using the addition imaging as a default imaging mode for obtaining a recorded image. Even in the case of using the image pickup device, the file size of the recorded image can be prevented from being enlarged without any special setting operation by the user,
Sufficient sensitivity and dynamic range can be secured. Further, since there is room in the spatial resolution of the image sensor itself with respect to the resolution of the recorded image, it is possible to obtain effects such as reduction in color moiré. In addition, a high frame rate can be realized by using an addition imaging method including at least intra-element addition. Of course, an out-of-element addition method in which all addition processing is performed by a digital processing system may be used, and in this case, the same is effective except for the frame rate.

In actual recording, for example, JPE
Compression such as G may be used, and the compression ratio or the like in the case of compression or non-compression and compression recording can be set independently of the number of recording pixels as needed.

In the above example, the recording image quality mode can be selected. However, a camera having only one recording image quality mode may be used (for example, a camera in which 4 million has been eliminated). Also in this case, since there is a margin in the spatial sampling frequency of the image sensor with respect to the target resolution, there is an effect that the crystal LPF can be made thinner and color moire is reduced as compared with the case where one million pixel elements are used.

Further, in the above example, four pixels were added in order to obtain the target resolution of 1 million pixels of the recorded image. However, the number of added pixels is arbitrarily set according to the relationship between the number of pixels of the image sensor and the target resolution. It is possible. Applying this,
A plurality of modes having different numbers of recording pixels may be prepared as recording image quality modes using additive imaging, and the pixel addition number may be changed according to the selected mode.

Further, it is needless to say that the present invention is not limited to a digital still camera, but can be applied to any image pickup apparatus including a movie camera. The present invention is equally applicable not only to a color imaging device but also to a monochrome imaging device. In addition, various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0054]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Without any special setting operation by the user, it is possible to perform image-priority imaging that can improve problems such as image quality deterioration due to the increase in the number of pixels of the image sensor, and also perform high-resolution imaging as necessary. It becomes possible.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an imaging device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary view showing a transition of an operation control state in the imaging apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration of a color imaging element used in the imaging device of the embodiment.

FIG. 4 is an exemplary view showing a filter arrangement of a color imaging element used in the imaging apparatus of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is an exemplary view showing an example of four-pixel addition used in the imaging device of the embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exemplary view showing functions of a control system for realizing 4-pixel addition according to the embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a timing chart for explaining a shutter opening / closing operation and a charge reading operation in the embodiment.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101 ... Lens system 102 ... Lens drive mechanism 103 ... Exposure control mechanism 104 ... Mechanical shutter 105 ... CCD color image sensor 106 ... CCD driver 107 ... Preprocess circuit 108 ... Digital process circuit 109 ... Card interface 110 ... Memory card 111 ... LCD image display System 112: System controller (CPU) 112a: Imaging control unit 112b: Recording image quality mode switching unit 113: Operation switch system 114: Operation display system 115: Lens driver 116: Strobe 117: Exposure control driver 118: Non-volatile memory (EEPROM) 201: photodiode 202: vertical CCD 203: horizontal CCD

──────────────────────────────────────────────────の Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) H04N 9/07 H04N 101: 00 // H04N 101: 00 5/91 J F-term (Reference) 5C022 AA13 AB31 AB68 AC33 AC42 AC69 5C024 CX41 GY04 GZ24 HX28 JX15 5C052 GA02 GC00 GE08 5C053 FA08 FA27 KA04 KA22 LA02 5C065 AA03 BB48 CC01 CC08 CC09 DD03 EE06 GG21 GG27

Claims (12)

[Claims] An image pickup device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels; a driving unit for driving the image pickup device to read out an image signal; and adding a unit pixel signal corresponding to the image receiving pixel to each other. An addition unit capable of performing an addition subtraction process for reducing the number of pixels, and an imaging unit capable of performing an addition imaging process of recording an output image signal of an imaging device subjected to the addition reduction process by the addition unit on a recording medium according to a predetermined recording format. An imaging device having control means, wherein the imaging control means is configured to perform the additive imaging when performing imaging in a default state defined as an initial setting state of the imaging apparatus. An imaging device, comprising: 2. An image pickup device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels, and performing addition readout for driving the image pickup device and reading out a unit pixel signal corresponding to the image reception pixel while adding it inside the image pickup device. An image pickup apparatus comprising: a driving unit capable of performing the addition image pickup for recording an output image signal of the image pickup device by the addition readout on a recording medium according to a predetermined recording format; Is configured to perform the additive imaging when performing imaging in a default state defined as an initial setting state of the imaging apparatus. 3. An image pickup device having a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements as image receiving pixels, a non-additional read operation for driving the image pickup device to individually read out a unit pixel signal corresponding to the image receiving pixel, and the unit pixel signal A driving unit capable of executing addition reading which is read while performing addition inside the imaging device; an imaging control unit which records an output image signal of the imaging device by the non-addition reading or the addition reading on a recording medium according to a predetermined recording format; Recording for switching between a first recording image quality mode corresponding to a first recording pixel number of a predetermined recording format and a second recording image quality mode corresponding to a second recording pixel number larger than the first recording pixel number. An image quality mode switching unit, wherein the image capturing control unit performs the addition reading for the first recording image quality mode. An imaging apparatus configured to perform the addition imaging by the non-addition imaging by the non-addition reading in the second recording image quality mode. 4. The imaging control means according to claim 1, wherein said imaging control means is configured to perform said addition imaging when performing imaging in a default state defined as an initial setting state of said imaging apparatus. Item 4. The imaging device according to Item 3. 5. The recording image quality mode switching means is configured to preferentially select the first recording image quality mode when performing continuous shooting. An imaging device according to any one of the preceding claims. 6. The apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising warning means for warning when the second recording quality mode is selected by said recording quality mode switching means when performing continuous shooting. 6. The imaging device according to claim 5. 7. The recording image quality mode switching means is configured to prohibit selection of the second recording image quality mode when performing continuous shooting. Imaging device. 8. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the default state is an initial setting state that is generated when all adjustments are completed in a manufacturing process of the imaging apparatus. 9. A reset switch which is provided in preparation for a runaway state of a system controller which controls the operation of the imaging apparatus, and which is capable of escaping from the runaway state by an operation of the system controller, wherein the default state is 5. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the imaging apparatus is in an initial setting state generated by operating a reset switch. 10. The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a power supply of the imaging apparatus is a replaceable battery, and the default state is an initial setting state caused by replacement of the battery.
5. The imaging device according to 2 or 4. 11. A power supply switch for turning on or off a main power supply, wherein the default state is an initial setting state caused by turning on or off a power supply by operating the power switch. Terms 1, 2
Or the imaging device according to 4. 12. An operation mode switching means for switching between a photographing mode, which is an operation mode for mainly performing imaging, and a non-photographing mode, which is an operation mode for which imaging cannot be performed, wherein the default state is 5. The image pickup apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image pickup apparatus is in an initial setting state caused by mode switching performed by the operation mode switching means.